Graphic Designer Salary in Illinois: $67,028 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 64 metropolitan areas, the average median graphic designer pay sits at $67,028/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 27-1024. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $69,030 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naperville ($67,184), Chicago ($66,490), Elgin ($65,897).

Graphic Designer Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois graphic designer salary overview (2026)

$67,028

Avg Median Salary

$32.23

Avg Hourly Rate

7,841

Metro Employed

Cities

In Illinois, the average median salary for graphic designers in 2026 is projected to be $67,028, which is 3.0% higher than the national median of $65,075. The salary range varies significantly across the state, with the highest-paying city, Naperville, offering $69,441, while Decatur features the lowest at $49,716. The discrepancy in pay can be attributed to factors such as local cost of living, demand for design services, and the concentration of businesses that hire graphic designers. Illinois does not have state licensing requirements specifically for graphic designers, but understanding local scope of practice laws is important. Additionally, demand for graphic designers is driven by industries such as technology, marketing, and advertising, which are particularly strong in metropolitan areas like Chicago and Naperville. With a projected growth rate of 3.36% annually, the job market for graphic designers in Illinois is expected to expand moderately, with a total of 7,841 designers employed across the state. The top metropolitan areas for salary in 2026 include Naperville at $69,441, followed closely by Chicago at $68,724 and Elgin at $68,111. Other cities such as Champaign and Urbana also contribute to the diverse opportunities available in the graphic design field.

Illinois Graphic Designer Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$44,021

avg across 64 cities

Median

$67,028

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$101,494

avg across 64 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $32,248 (lowest entry-level) to $107,634 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$67,028

National Median

$65,075

Illinois graphic designers earn 3.00% more than the national median (+$1,953/year difference).

Illinois Graphic Designer Salary Distribution (2026)

Graphic Designer salaries in Illinois range from $44,021 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $101,494 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $67,028. The Illinois median is $1,953 above the US national median of $65,075. The average hourly rate is $32.23/hr. Approximately 7,841 graphic designers are employed across 64 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$56,077

2025 BLS Actual

$64,849

2026 Current Est.

$67,028

2019–2027 Growth

+23.5%

Salary Trajectory for Graphic Designers in Illinois (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.36% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$56,077	Actual
2020	$56,472	Actual
2021	$50,223	Actual
2022	$57,188	Actual
2023	$58,296	Actual
2024	$61,472	Actual
2025	$64,849	Actual
2026(current)	$67,028	Estimated
2027	$69,280	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median graphic designer salary grew 15.6% from $56,077 (2019) to $64,849 (2025). At a 3.36% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $69,280 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,203 (23.54%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.36% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois

Naperville

23 employed · $33.39/hr

$69,441

+3.60% vs avg

Chicago

6,590 employed · $33.04/hr

$68,724

+2.53% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $32.74/hr

$68,111

+1.62% vs avg

Champaign

150 employed · $29.91/hr

$62,223

-7.17% vs avg

Urbana

6 employed · $29.81/hr

$61,996

-7.51% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Decatur	$49,716	-25.83%	$23.91
Rock Island	$54,370	-18.88%	$26.14
Carbondale	$54,651	-18.47%	$26.27
Elmhurst	$55,195	-17.65%	$26.53
Moline	$55,225	-17.61%	$26.55

Best Value Cities for Graphic Designers in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for graphic designers.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Naperville	$69,441	97.1	$71,515
Elgin	$68,111	97.1	$70,145
Champaign	$62,223	92.704	$67,120
Chicago	$68,724	103.595	$66,339
Peoria	$58,347	91.231	$63,955

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$44,021	$21.16	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$67,028	$32.23	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$101,494	$48.80	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 64 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Naperville	$69,441	$33.39	$41,326	$107,634	23
2	Chicago	$68,724	$33.04	$45,220	$104,001	6,590
3	Elgin	$68,111	$32.74	$43,603	$105,572	16
4	Champaign	$62,223	$29.91	$40,869	$82,006	150
5	Urbana	$61,996	$29.81	$42,536	$96,095	6
6	Orland Park	$59,161	$28.44	$37,276	$91,700	9
7	Bloomington	$59,153	$28.44	$40,569	$95,680	90
8	Bolingbrook	$58,907	$28.32	$34,740	$91,306	19
9	Palatine	$58,464	$28.10	$35,467	$90,619	16
10	Waukegan	$58,431	$28.09	$35,634	$90,569	18
11	Peoria	$58,347	$28.05	$39,184	$91,226	150
12	Mount Prospect	$58,320	$28.04	$35,387	$90,396	13
13	Hoffman Estates	$58,131	$27.95	$34,967	$90,103	8
14	Evanston	$58,020	$27.90	$34,723	$89,931	16
15	Joliet	$57,970	$27.87	$36,675	$89,854	25
16	Oak Park	$57,923	$27.85	$34,509	$89,781	10
17	Danville	$57,803	$27.79	$37,272	$89,595	5
18	Addison	$57,681	$27.73	$36,987	$89,405	6
19	Berwyn	$57,654	$27.72	$33,921	$89,364	12
20	Aurora	$57,617	$27.70	$35,909	$89,306	44
21	Tinley Park	$57,609	$27.70	$38,193	$89,294	8
22	Northbrook	$57,550	$27.67	$36,623	$89,202	8
23	St. Charles	$57,514	$27.65	$36,600	$89,146	7
24	Gurnee	$57,499	$27.65	$36,568	$89,124	8
25	Arlington Heights	$57,419	$27.61	$38,000	$88,999	18
26	Wheaton	$57,345	$27.57	$37,834	$88,885	14
27	Woodridge	$57,328	$27.57	$36,110	$88,858	9
28	Schaumburg	$57,299	$27.55	$37,672	$88,813	13
29	Buffalo Grove	$57,282	$27.54	$39,007	$88,787	7
30	Bartlett	$57,278	$27.54	$36,056	$88,781	9
31	Springfield	$57,075	$27.44	$32,248	$88,745	100
32	Lake in the Hills	$57,065	$27.43	$35,508	$88,451	6
33	Collinsville	$57,056	$27.43	$35,548	$88,437	5
34	Skokie	$57,040	$27.42	$37,093	$88,412	12
35	Wheeling	$56,957	$27.38	$38,244	$88,283	6
36	Carpentersville	$56,892	$27.35	$38,156	$88,184	8
37	Oak Lawn	$56,855	$27.34	$36,507	$88,126	14
38	O'Fallon	$56,843	$27.33	$35,063	$88,106	6
39	Quincy	$56,622	$27.23	$34,559	$87,764	6
40	Algonquin	$56,622	$27.23	$34,321	$87,764	5
41	Carol Stream	$56,571	$27.19	$34,447	$87,685	10
42	Normal	$56,569	$27.19	$34,455	$87,682	8
43	Lombard	$56,535	$27.18	$34,365	$87,629	8
44	Cicero	$56,476	$27.15	$35,902	$87,538	21
45	Plainfield	$56,417	$27.12	$38,515	$87,447	11
46	Des Plaines	$56,407	$27.12	$35,749	$87,430	12
47	Rockford	$56,362	$27.10	$40,011	$79,660	110
48	Oswego	$56,191	$27.02	$37,989	$87,095	7
49	DeKalb	$56,146	$27.00	$38,122	$87,027	9
50	Park Ridge	$56,101	$26.97	$38,017	$86,956	7
51	Hanover Park	$56,078	$26.96	$37,965	$86,921	6
52	Glenview	$56,074	$26.96	$37,955	$86,914	12
53	Romeoville	$55,847	$26.85	$37,433	$86,564	7
54	Streamwood	$55,770	$26.81	$37,256	$86,443	8
55	Downers Grove	$55,666	$26.76	$37,017	$86,282	11
56	Belleville	$55,652	$26.76	$36,986	$86,261	10
57	Crystal Lake	$55,562	$26.71	$36,780	$86,122	9
58	Galesburg	$55,349	$26.62	$36,296	$85,792	4
59	Calumet City	$55,331	$26.60	$36,255	$85,763	7
60	Moline	$55,225	$26.55	$35,048	$85,600	10
61	Elmhurst	$55,195	$26.53	$35,947	$85,553	9
62	Carbondale	$54,651	$26.27	$38,641	$84,709	5
63	Rock Island	$54,370	$26.14	$33,322	$84,275	5
64	Decatur	$49,716	$23.91	$35,473	$84,786	40

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore graphic designer hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new graphic designers.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced graphic designers.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsChampaign, IL Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsBloomington, IL Chicago, ILvsAurora, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Graphic Designer Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do graphic designers make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median graphic designer salary in Illinois is $67,028/year across 64 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $49,716 in Decatur to $69,441 in Naperville. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 3.00% above the national median of $65,075. The state employs approximately 7,841 graphic designers.

What is the highest paying city for graphic designers in Illinois?

Naperville offers the highest graphic designer salary in Illinois at $69,441/year ($33.39/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naperville ($69,441), Chicago ($68,724), Elgin ($68,111). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for graphic design services, and competition among employers for licensed graphic designers.

How does Illinois graphic designer pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average graphic designer salary of $67,028 is 3.00% above the national median of $65,075 in 2026. The state employs approximately 7,841 graphic designers across 64 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level graphic designer salary in Illinois?

Entry-level graphic designers (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $44,021/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $32,248 in lower-paying areas to $45,220 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many graphic designers are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 7,841 graphic designers across 64 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois one of the larger employers of graphic designers nationally. Demand continues to grow as the graphic design field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for graphic designers?

When adjusted for cost of living, Naperville offers the highest purchasing power for graphic designers in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $71,515 (nominal: $69,441, CoL index: 97.1). This means your dollar goes 3% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Jordan Lee, MFA

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience in graphic design. They specialize in branding and visual identity. Their work includes freelance projects for small businesses.

Clinically reviewed by Amina Patel, BFAData verified by Carlos Rodriguez, MA

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.36% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 graphic designer compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 64 metro areas — larger metro areas with more graphic designerscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.36%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for graphic designers (SOC 27-1024).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MFA, a licensed graphic designer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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